u/Fickle_Strawberry_26

Hey. I’ve posted previously on here in the past about my previous work place and how I was struggling with it, the management and the hours.

I have since been offered a place on an apprenticeship at a nursery. It’s 25 hours a week not full time, five hours a day Monday to Friday a set schedule for me and weekends off obviously.

Honestly I’ve had an ambition to work with children specifically taking a path towards SENCO. I’m excited to start tomorrow but I’m honestly so nervous and I’m here questioning if I’m making the right choice leaving my old job for what I hope will be the next chapter in my life. I’ve heard stories about the Early Years sector about toxicity and it’s scaring me a little bit.

I know that any place is never going to be toxic free. I’m anxious about starting my new job like anyone would be, and I’m worried my autism and ADHD won’t be able to handle it. Is there anyone here who’s also in the education sector? What’s it like for you?

I work part time retail. I mostly work between 16-20 hours a week, sometimes more.

Lately at my job we’ve been struggling for staff and right now we have 6 people on sick (3 long term, 3 short term) and yesterday was supposed to be my day off but I offered to help my manager out yesterday even though I had a job interview in the afternoon I was preparing for. I worked for 2.5 hours in the morning then had to rush off for my interview and afterwards I helped my manager out further and covered at a different store for about 4 hours. I basically was rushed here there and everywhere yesterday and burned the candle out at both ends. I nearly fell asleep while working on the till I was so tired.

Today I was scheduled to work 4 hours 2-6 and my manager messaged asking if I could work until 10pm. I politely declined because I do actually have plans with friends tonight which I so need and because I’m still burnt out from yesterday. But there’s this longing guilt for saying no because we are struggling right now. I want to be helpful but not at the detriment of my mental health. I hate saying no even though I have to…

I’m 26f, I’ve been diagnosed with autism for 3 years now. I’ve been working at my job as a sales assistant for 5 years now and I’m struggling. I’ve done full time hours, part time hours and either way I feel so burnt out.

I’ve thought about handing in a sick note, handing in my notice. I don’t know what to do anymore. I just feel stuck and unable to just be normal. I wish I could be normal and live a life without autism. I don’t know what to do with my life anymore in terms of my career.

I’m 26f and I’ve been working as a sales assistant in a regular uk supermarket chain for nearly 5 years this year. During that time I was diagnosed with autism and my mental health has been in a decline.

I’ve worked with some amazing people, and even fought back over a rather sleazy boss who tried to fire me for my autism (which goes against the Equality Act and he actually got fired for this) I now have an amazing boss who has been nothing but supportive with my autism and mental health issues. She supports me with any accommodations I need such as only giving me part time hours which is what works best for me.

But my mental health is continuously declining and this job has put me into burnout. I’m struggling to handle anything including my basic living. There are also some people I work with who are lazy and toxic and being around them has also been a hinderance to my mental health. Now some co workers are lovely but others have put me in tears. I’m struggling to keep up with what this company wants from me and my mental health makes it hard to do this.

I’ve thought about quitting many times, but my Nan specifically has urged me not to since I don’t have a backup plan or another job to go to. I can’t take this current job anymore I just want to up and leave. I can’t take the drama between coworkers and constant bitching and feeling like I can’t keep up. I just worry if I do this what will my family think about me upping and leaving without another job lined up?

Now I live in the uk and I do earn benefits which do allow me to work part time and still be able to afford my rent and live. If I quit my job I’ll still have enough to pay my rent and live. There just feels like a lot of stigma around leaving without a backup plan and I don’t want backlash from my family. Would I be wrong to quit? Would I be a disappointment?